Editorial : educating adults [Gozo Observer, 38]

Abstract

Compared to half a century ago, the population of the Maltese Islands is very much better educated, with a continuously increasing proportion of adults having benefited from higher secondary and even tertiary education. The dismal scenario of a few decades ago, when less than two per cent of the population had a tertiary education is slowly beginning to show signs of improvement within the general public, with the promise that the worst has passed and that the future will be brighter. Considering how fundamentally important an education is, for better physical and psychological health, better income, increased life expectancy, and practically any yardstick of social welfare, it is surprising that our efforts have been largely directed at the education of the younger members of society, while ignoring that of older persons. University degrees are rarely given to anyone over 50. The proportion of persons with university degrees in this cohort of individuals is miserably low, and compares badly with that in most countries in Europe.